Electrostatic image developing device

ABSTRACT

An electrostatic image developing device provided with a photosensitive copy paper transporting rotary body having a plurality of photosensitive copy paper receiving plates equiangularly radially disposed peripherally of the rotary body whereby the copy papers bearing thereupon electrostatic images are held in position between adjacent receiving plates for developement. The object is to facilitate the photocopying process without reducing a developing time.

United States Patent 11 1 Ando et al. 1 July 17, 1973 I54] ELECTROSTATIC IMAGE DEVELOPING 3,093,051 6/1963 Ritzerfeld 7. 95/89 DEVICE 2,443,28l 6/I948 Terry 271 .3

[75] inventors: Sadanao Ando, Musashino;

Fumihiro Miyagawa Tokyo both Primary Examiner-John M. Horan ofjapan Attorney-Burgess, Ryan & Hicks [73 Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Ricoh, Tokyo,

Japan [22] Filed: June 16, 1971 57 A S T [21] Appl. N0.: 153,602

An electrostatic image developing device provided I Related Apphcatmn Data with a photosensitive copy paper transporting rotary Division Of Ser. NO. 780,673, D66. 3, l968, Pat. N0. having a plurality of photgsensitive opy paper 3,638,609, receiving plates equiangularly radially disposed peripherally of the rotary body whereby the copy papers bear- [52] US. Cl 95/13, 95/89, 95/94, ing thereupon electrostatic images are held in position 95/14 between adjacent receiving plates for developemenL [5]] Int. Cl. G03!) 17/50 h object is to facilitate the photocopying process [58] Field Of Search 95/13, 14, 89, 94 without reducing a developing time [56] References Cited 3 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUU 1 lm 3'. 745.898

SHEET t [If 4 FIG. IO.

ELECTROSTATIC IMAGE DEVELOPING DEVICE This application is a division of copending application Ser. No. 780,673 filed Dec. 3, 1968 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,609.

The present invention relates to a wet type developing device for developing an electrostatic image produced upon an electrostatic photocopying paper and more particularly a developing device of the type described wherein a plurality of electrostatic images upon copy sheets into which are cut from a photocopying paper roll, are developed at the same time one by one.

As the developing device of the type wherein an electrostatic latent image is produced upon a photosensitive paper in which a photoconductive material such as zinc oxide is applied to a suitable insulating material base and is made visible by applying image-producing particles to the electrostatic latent image, there have been known two types of developing devices; one being the dry type developing device wherein the electrostatic latent images are developed by contacting the image-producing particles with the latent images; and the other being the wet type developing device wherein the latent images are developed in a developing solution in which image-producing particles are suspended in a carrier having a higher electric resistance sufficient to prevent the breakdown of the electrostatic latent images.

Generally, one of the defects of the wet type developing device is that the developing time will take longer as compared with the dry type developing device. The developing time in the wet type developing device will be several to tens times as compared with the dry type developing device even if very finely divided, very high sensitive developing agent is used especially when the corona discharge is generated between the corona discharge electrodes and a photocopying sheet which is spaced apart from the electrodes by a considerable distance, in order to give the charges to the photoconductive material upon the photocopying sheet so as to generate a relatively weak surface potential thereupon and an electrostatic latent image is produced upon such charged photocopying sheet and is developed by the wet type developing method; or when the so called non-charging method is employed in which the photocopying sheet is not subjected to the corona discharge and an electrostatic latent image is produced by utilizing photogalvanic effect induced upon exposure of the copy sheet and is developed by the wet type developing method.

Since the exposure time is very short as compared with the developing time, one of the methods to facilitate photocopying, that is to increase the efficiency of photocopying process is to reduce the developing time. However, in case of the wet type developing method, especially in case of the wet type developing method in which the photocopying sheets whose surface potential is relatively lower is to be developed, it is impossible to reduce the developing time, that is the time when the photocopying sheets having electrostatic latent images are immersed in the developing solution from the standpoint of the characteristics of the wet type developing method.

In view of the above, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image which is advantageously capable of increasing the photocopying efficiency without reducing the time which the photocopying sheets are immersed in the developing solution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, employed is a photocopyingsheet transporting rotary body having a plurality of photocopying sheet receiving plates equiangularly radially disposed peripherally of the rotary body so that the photocopying sheets having electrostatic latent images thereupon are advanced between adjacent receiving plates and a plurality of photocopying sheets may be simultaneously developed in the sequential order that the photocopying sheets are immersed in the developing solution.

According to one of the embodiments of the present invention, said rotary body is comprising a horizontal rotary shaft and a plurality of photocopying sheet receiving plates equiangularly radially disposed peripherally of the horizontal rotary shaft. According to another embodiment of the present invention, said rotary body is comprising a vertical rotary shaft and a plurality of photocopying sheet receiving plates equiangularly radially disposed peripherally of the vertical rotary shaft. According to a still another embodiment of the present invention, the same number of photocopying sheet clamping or holding plates as that of the receiving plates are provided so as to cooperatively operate with the receiving plates, thereby clamping or holding in position one photocopying sheet between them. According to a further embodiment of the present invention, said rotary body is comprising an endless belt and a plurality of photocopying paper receiving plates extending outwardly from the upper surface of the endless belt.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. I is a longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of an electrostatic image developing device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a photosensitive paper transporting rotary body;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of an electrostatic image developing device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a photosensitive paper receiving plates and a photosensitive paper clamping or holding plate both of which are attached to the photosensitive paper transporting rotary body;

FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of an opening member for opening the photosensitive paper clamping or holding plate;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a still another embodiment of an electrostatic image developing device of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating another opening member for opening the photosensitive paper clamping or holding plate;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a yet another embodiment of an electrostatic image developing device of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view thereof with a part broken away;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a further embodiment of an electrostatic image developing device of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view illustrating an endless belt carrying photosensitive paper receiving plates.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring FIGS. I and 2, a photosensitive paper transporting rotary body generally indicated by 3 has a plurality of photosensitive paper receiving plates 2 which are disposed substantially equiangularly so as to extend radially from a rotary shaft 1. The both ends of the rotary shaft 1 of the rotary body 3 are joumalled by stationary members such as end plates secured stationarily to a stationary developing solution chamber 4 so that the rotary body 3 may be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow a. The developing solution chamber 4 has a semi-cylindrical inner wall surface 4a disposed coaxially with the rotary shaft 1. In the developing solution chamber 4 is filled a developing solution 5 in which image producing particles are suspended in a carrier having a high electric resistance and the lower half of the rotary body 3 is immersed in the developing solution 5.

In FIG. 1, a photocopying device exclusive of the developing device is schematically shown on the left side of the chain line AA, and a reference numeral 6 designates a device for cutting into a predetennined size a photosensitive paper drawn from a photosensitive paper roll 7; 8, a device for charging the cut-out photosensitive paper; and 9, a device for exposing the charged paper so as to produce an electrostatic latent image. There has been known in the art a photocopying device or machine in which a photosensitive paper roll is automatically cut into a predetermined size and the exposure of resulting cut-out paper is effected in conjunction with the cutting step. In case of a photocopying method in which is employed a non-charging method, the above described charging device 8 is of course not used.

The exposed photosensitive paper 10 discharged from the exposure device 9 is fed between two adjacent photosensitive receiving plates 2 which are rotating at low speed, by means of a photosensitive feeding device 13 comprising a pair of rollers 11 and 12. In order that the exposed photosensitive papers sequentially discharged from the feeding device 113 may be placed in position one by one in the wedge-shaped spaces formed by adjacent receiving plates 2, the rotary shaft 1 is interlocked with the roller 12 so that the leading edge of the exposed paper discharged from the exposure device 13 may be permitted to advance just in time into the wedge-shaped space opening in synchronism with the rotation thereof. In order that the exposed paper may be positively fed into the opening of the wedge-shaped space, the peripheral speeds of both of the rollers 11 and 12 are as faster as possible so that the photosensitive paper may be fed into the wedge-shaped space as fast as possible when the opening of the wedge-shaped space is located just in opposite to the feeding device 13.

Now a plurality of exposed photosensitive papers which are sequentially fed into the wedge-shaped space between two adjacent receiving plates one by one and thus carried by the rotary body 3, are immersed through the developing solution and transported toward the direction opposite to the feeding device 13. Since the rotation of the rotary body 3 is slow, the time for contacting and immersing the exposed papers with the developing solution is sufficiently long enough.

Projections 14 formed along the inner wall surface of the bottom portion of the developing solution chamber 4 serve to vibrate the photosensitive papers passing through these projections 14 so that the better contact and immersion of the papers with the developing solution may be ensured. It is preferable that each of the receiving plates 2 is made of a plate provided with a mu]- titude of pores for passing the developing solution therethrough or a net-like plate in order to agitate the solution within the chamber 4 and to reduce the resistance of the rotary body encountered when rotated in the solution.

A brush roller 15 is disposed at such position where the upper surface of the leading edge of the paper emerged from the developing solution may abut against the brush roller 15. Both of this brush roller 15 and a roller 16 are rotated continuously at relative higher rpm. in the directions indicated by the arrows. When the outer edge of the paper abuts against the brush roller 15, the brush roller 15 draws out the paper from the wedge-shaped space between the adjacent receiving plates so that the paper is issued out of the developing device by means of the brush roller 15 and the roller 16.

The air is preferably blown from a suitable blower toward the upper half of the rotary body 3 so as to dry the wet receiving plates 2, whereby the resistance exerting to the paper when it was fed into the wedge-shaped space may be reduced.

The rotary member which serves to draw the paper emerging from the solution from the wedge-shaped space is not limited to the brush roller shown in FIG. 1, but any other suitable rotary member such as member which is made of a material having a suitable property to exert a frictional force to the paper so as to draw it outwardly, for example, flexible rubber or synthetic resin, and whose outer surface is provided with suitable projections and recesses, may be advantageously employed.

When the paper is emerged from the developing device, the paper is fed into a dryer employing a suitable thermal source and/or to the next developing solution treatment chamber when more than one developing solution are used. In each of the proceding treatment chambers, a photosensitive paper transporting rotary body similar to that used in the developing device as described hereinabove may be used. A plurality of treatment devices incorporating the rotary bodies as described above may be disposed in series in such a manner that the rotary member for drawing the treated paper from each treatment device is located in opposite to the paper feeding portion of the next treatment device. 1

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. A photosensitive paper transporting rotary body generally indicated by is provided a plurality of photosensitive paper holding mechanism I04 each of which is comprised of a pair of a photosensitive receiving plate 102 and a photosensitive paper clamping or holding plate 103. A plurality of photosensitive paper receiving plates 102 and a plurality of clamping or holding plates 103 are equiangularly disposed peripherally of a rotary shaft 101 so as to extend radially therfrom. Both ends of the rotary shaft 101 are journalled by stationary members such as end plates of a stationary developing solution chamber 106 respectively so that the rotary body 105 may be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow a. As in the case of the first embodiment, in the developing solution chamber 106 is filled a developing solution 107 consisting of image producing particles suspended in a carrier having a high electric resistance, and the lower half of the rotary body 105 is adapted to be immersed into this solution 107 in the chamber 106.

The structures and operations of the portions indicated by the numerals 108 to 114 shown in FIG. 3 are identical with those of the portions indicated by the numerals 6 to 13 shown in FIG. 1.

The pair of receiving plate 102 and clamping or holding plate 103 are both pivoted at ends thereof 102a and 103a respectively to the shaft 101 so that both plates may be closed or opened as shown in FIG. 4. Furthermore the clamping or holding plate 103 is provided with a spring member 115 so that the clamping or holding plate 103 normally tends to be biased toward the receiving plate 102. When one of the holding mechanisms 104 constituting of the pair of receiving and clamping or holding plates 102 and 103, approaches a feeding device 104 by the slow rotation of the rotary shaft 101, the leading or free end of the clamping or holding plate 103 abuts against a clamping or holding plate opening member 116 disposed in the vicinity of the feeding device 114 so that the movement of the clamping or holding plate 103 is retarded temporarily, whereby the clamping or holding plate 103 is rotated about the pivoted end portions 102b and 103b against the spring member 115, thereby spacing the clamping or holding plate 103 from the receiving plate 102 so as to provide an opening. Thus, the exposed photosensitive paper discharged from the feeding device 114 may be advanced upon the receiving plate 102.

When the movement of the clamping or holding plate 103 is retarded by means of the holding plate opening member 116 as described above, the clamping or holding plate 103 is made to incline backwardly with the free side edge thereof being moved in contact with the inner surface of the opening member 116. When the free side edge of the holding plate 103 is released from the inner surface of the opening member 116, the clamping or holding plate 103 is again pressed against the receiving plate 102 by its tendency due to the spring member so that the exposed paper advanced between the spaced apart receiving and clampint or holding plates 103 may be held stationary in position therebetween. When the receiving plates 102 are disposed in closely spaced-apart relation with each other, the clamping or holding plate 103 which has been retarded and opened backwardly would be pushed by its mating receiving plate 102 before the clamping or holding plate 103 is released from the opening member 116. Therefore, in order to eliminated any mechanical difficulty imposed upon the clamping or holding plate 103 and other members due to the forcible rotation by means of the receiving plate 102 as described above, it is preferable to provide a suitable means to the clamping or holding plate opening member 116 so that the clamping or holding plate 103 may be displaced back- When the clamping or holding plate opening member 116 is formed as a stationary member, it is required that the opening member 1 16 must be adjusted with respect to the advancing speed of clamping or the holding plate 103 due to the rotation of the rotary shaft 101, the strength of the spring member 115 and the time during which the exposed paper fed from the feeding device 114 is advanced toward the receiving plate and held in position in the holding mechanism 104. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, natural or synthetic resin fibers may be disposed upon the portion of the opening member 116, with which engages the clamping or holding plate, in the form of brush or an elastic rubber or the like may be disposed upon this portion, whereby the best adapted holding plate opening member may be provided.

The operation of the feeding device 114 is made in synchronism with the rotary shaft 101 so that the leading edge of the exposed paper from the feeding device 114 may be just fed into the opening formed between the receiving and clamping or holding plates in synchronism with the formation of this opening. In order to secure the positive advancement of the paper into the receiving mechanism, it is preferably to determine the peripheral speeds of both of rollers 112 and 113 at relatively higher speed so that the paper may be advanced into the opening of the holding mechanism 104 as fast as possible when the opening is located in opposite to the feeding device 114.

A plurality of photosensitive papers 117 which have been secured in position one in each receiving mechanism 104 are advanced to be immersed into and to pass through the developing solution and transferred to a position opposite to the feeding device 114 as the rotary body rotates. In this case, since the rotation of the rotary body 105 is relatively slow, the time allowing the papers to contact with and to be immersed in the developing solution is sufficiently long enough.

In order that the developing solution 107 in the chamber 106 may be sufficiently agitated so that the development of the papers may be much facilitated and in order that the resistance exerting to the rotary body due to the rotation in the developing solution may be reduced as much as possible, it will be advantageous to use both of the receiving and clamping or holding plates 102 and 103 made of screen-like plate or porous plate.

A brush roller 118 is disposed at a position where the upper surface of the outer side edge portion of the photosensitive paper emerged from the developing solution may abuts against the brush roller 118. Both of this brush roller 118 and another roller 119 are continuously rotated in the directions indicated by the arrows b at relatively high speed. Therefore, when the outer edge portion of the paper 117 abuts against the brush roller 118, the brush roller 118 draws the paper from the receiving mechanism 104 and discharge out of the developing device by means of the brush roller 1 18 and the roller 119.

In the second embodiment described above, the shape, the size, the proportion, the position, the material and the like of the spring member are not limited so far as the spring member 115 serves to permit the receiving mechanism 104 to hold securely therein the paper 117. For example, the spring member 115 may be made of an elastic resin plate. Also the shape, the size, the proportion, the material and the like of the holding plate opening member 116 are not limited as far as it serves the purpose. For example, the clamping or holding plate opening member 116 may be made of wire. No special limit is imposed upon the position of the holding plateopening member as far as it can retard the motion of the holding plate as described above.

The third embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. In this embodiment, the length of a clamping or holding plate opening member 116a is made longer than that of the clamping or holding plate opening members 116 in FIGS. 3 and 5, and is formed in such a manner the opening member 116a covers a rotary body from the position where the photosensitive paper receiving mechanism emerges out of the developing solution and to the position where the mechanism receives the photosensitive paper. Thus, in this embodiment, the clamping or holding plate 103 may be spaced apart from the receiving plate 102 as soon as they emerge from the developing solution so that the opposing surfaces of both of the receiving plate and the clamping or holding plate may be dried by a suitable drying means (not shown), whereby the resistance extering upon the paper to be fed into the opening of the receiving mechanism 104 may be reduced. 1

As shown in FIG. 5 and in FIG. 7 wherein the clamping holding plate opening member is designated by 116b, the surface which is made in contact with the clamping or holding plate 103 may be provided with a brush of natural or synthetic fibers or with a relative soft, but elastic rubber or the like so that the better effect may be attained.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter. A photosensitive roll paper 301 is cut into a predetermined size by means of a cutting device 302 and is fed into a charging device 303 where the paper is charged. In case of the non-charging method wherein the corona discharge is not utilized, but weak photoelectric power induced when the paper is expoxed is utilized so as to wet-develop an electrostatic latent image, the above charging device 303 is not used. The charged paper is fed into an exposure device 307 in which is disposed a photosensitive paper feeding belt 206 extending between a pair of pulleys 304 and 305 and being driven by means of the pulley 305, and is transported to a predetermined position where the paper is exposed. The photosensitive paper disposed in the predetermined position will be projected with the image of an original 309 through a projection lens 308 and the exposed paper 310 is obtained. The exposed paper 310 is fed into a developing solution chamber 315 by means ofa feeding device 313 comprising a pair of rollers 311 and 312 and an inclined plate 314. Known is a photocopying device or machine of the type wherein a photosensitive paper roller is cut into a predetermined size automatically and thus cut-out papers are automatically and cooperatively subjected to the exposure and other steps.

As shown in FIG. 8, a photosensitive paper transporting rotary body generally indicated by 319 is rotatably disposed in the cylindrical developing solution chamher 315, and the rotary body 319 is provided with a plurality of receiving plates 318 equiangularly disposed peripherally of a rotary shaft 317 which is caused to rotate by means of a toothed wheel 316. The rotary shaft 317 is journalled by means of a bearing 320 disposed at the center of the bottom of the developing solution chamber 315 in a such a manner that any leakage of the developing solution along the rotary shaft 317 may be prevented by means of a suitable packing. The receiving plates 318 are adapted to define a plurality of photosensitive paper receiving chambers 321 between the receiving plates 318 and the inner wall 315a of the solution chamber 315, and the pair of rollers 311 and 312 of the feeding device 313 are rotated in synchronism with the toothed wheel 316 so that the photosensitive papers 310 may befed one by one into each of the receiving chambers 321 through the feeding device 313 and the inclined plate 314. Both of the'above feeding device 313 and the inclined plate 314 are securely fixed to the stationary member such as the side edge portion of the developing solution chamber 315 in such a manner that the leading or free side edge 314a of the inclined plate 314 is substantially in parallel with the upper side edge 31812 of the receiving plate 318 when it comes below the inclined plate 314.

The rotary body 319 is adapted to rotate at relatively lower speed in the direction indicated by the arrow a so that the plurality of receiving chambers defined by the receiving plates 318 and the inner wall 315a of the solution chamber 315 are rotated together with the rotary body. Thus, the photosensitive papers which are sequentially fed from the feeding device 313 and the inclined plate 314 are charged one by one into the receiving chambers 321. In order to secure the positive charging of the photosensitive papers into the receiving chambers 321, it is preferable to determine the peripheral speeds of both of the feed rollers 311 and 312 at a relative high speed so that the photosensitive papers may be charged into the receiving chambers as fast as possible when the charging side edge 314a of the inclined plate 314 coincides with each of the upper side edges 318a of the receiving plates 318. In the develop ing solution chamber 315 is filled a developing solution consisting of image producing particles suspended in a carrier having a relatively high electric resistance so that the exposed photosensitive papers received in the receiving chambers 321 may be subjected to a suitable developing treatment while they rotate in the develop ing solution chamber 315. Since the time for effecting the satisfactory development of the photosensitive papers varies depending upon the types and kinds of photosensitvie papers, the number of the receiving plates 318 extending from the rotary shaft 317 must be increased or decreased according or the rotational speed of the rotary body 319 must be adjusted accordingly. In the present embodiment, a plurality'of rotary bodies each having a different number of receiving plates are provided in accordance with the developing time or a plurality of toothed wheels 316 are provided so that the they may be replaced from one to another as needs demand.

Now with reference to FIGS. 10 and 1 1, the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter. A photosensitive roll paper 401 is cut into a predetermined size by ineans of a cutting device 402 and is transferred into a charging device 403 where the photosensitive papers are charged. When the noncharging method in which no corona discharge is utilized, but the weak photoelectric power induced by the exposure is utilized so as to wet-develop an electrostatic latent image, is employed, the above charging device 403 is not used. The charged photosensitive papers are transferred into the exposure device 404 where the papers are exposed and charged into a developing solution chamber 406 by means of a feeding device 405. Known in the art is an photocopying device or machine of the type wherein a photosensitive roll paper is automatically cut into a predetermined size and thus cutout papers are automatically and cooperatively subjected to the exposure step and other steps as described above.

As shown in FIG. 10, an endless belt 409 which is wrapped respectively around parts of peripheries of a pair of rollers 407 and 408 are provided with a plurality of pairs of large and small receiving plates 410 and 41 1, thus forming photosensitive paper receiving devices 412. The receiving plates 410 and 411 are made of an elastic material such as rubber, synthetic resin or the like, and one ends of these plates 410 and 411 are securedly fixed in position to the endless belt 409. These receiving plates 410 and 411 may be formed integrally with the endless belt 409 as shown in FIG. 11. On the other hand, when the receiving plates 410 and 411 are made of non-elastic material, the larger receiving plates may be pivotably fixed to the endless belt 409 in such a manner the larger receiving plates 410 have a tendency to stand upright by means of suitable spring members disposed at the base portions thereof, while the smaller receiving plates 411 may be disposed rigidly.

In the developing solution chamber 406 is filled a developing solution consisting of image producing particles suspended in carrier having relative higher resistance, and the major portion exclusive of the upper portion of the endless belt 409 is immersed into the developing solution. The inner wall surface 406a of the developing solution chamber 406 is so formed that when the receiving devices 412 are advanced in the direction indicated by the arrow a by means of the roller 407 rotating at lower speed, the larger receiving plates 410 are made in contact with the inner wall surface 4060 so that the larger receiving plates 410 may be inclined backwardly of the direction of advancement.

The feeding device 405 is comprising a pair of photosensitive paper receiving rollers 413 and 414, a pair of photosensitive paper guide plates 415 and 416 and a pair of photosensitive paper feed rollers 417 and 418, so that the exposed photosensitive papers 419 emerging from the exposure device 404 are advanced through the pair of receiving rollers 413 and 414 and the pair of guide plates 415 and 416 toward the pair of feed rollers 417 and 418. In order that the photosensitive paper 419 emerging from the feeding rollers 417 and 418 may be fed into the developing solution chamber 406 in a correct posture, the guide plate 415 is adapted to guide the trailing edge of the photosensitive paper 419 while the leading edge thereof is guided by means of a guide surface 406b of the developing solution chamber.

The feed rollers 417 and 418 of the feeding device 405 are arranged and disposed such that when the receiving device 412 emerges out of the developing solution chamber 406 so that the larger and smaller receiving plates 410 and 411 are made to stand upright and before the receiving device 412 is immersed again into the developing solution, the exposed photosensitive papers may be dropped between the pairs of larger and smaller receiving plates 410 and 411 one by one in synchronism with the advancement of the receiving devices 412. Thus, it is preferable that a driving device for the roller 407 of the receiving devices 412 is operated in synchronism with the operation of a driving device for the pairs of rollers of the feeding device 405 and further that the peripheral speeds of the pair of feed rollers 417 and 418 are set to relatively high rotational speed so that the photosensitive paper 419 may be dropped between the pair of larger and smaller receiving plates 410 and 411 as fast as possible when this pair of receiving plates 410 and 411 approach the vicinity of the feed rollers 417 and 418.

The pair of larger and smaller receiving plates 410 and 411 between which is held in position the exposed photosensitive paper 419 is advanced so that the paper is immersed into the developing solution of the developing solution chamber 406. At this moment, the larger receiving plate 410 is made in contact with the inner wall surface 406a of the solution chamber 406 so that the receiving plate 410 is inclined, whereby the photosensitive paper 419 is pressed against the smaller receiving plate 411 which is allowed to incline only a little or remains upright. Therefore, the photosensitive paper 419 may be advanced through the developing solution without any stagnation. The larger receiving plate 410 keeps pressing the photosensitive paper 419 against the smaller receiving plate 411 and advances through the developing solution chamber 406 as far as the larger receiving plate 410 remains in contact with the inner wall surface 406a of the chamber 406. After the photosensitive papers 419 are sufficiently immersed in the developing solution as described, above, the larger receiving plate 410 comes to stand upright again when the larger receiving plate 410 comes to a position opposite to the pair of feed rollers 417 and 418 so that at this position the developed photosensitive papers 419 may be picked up from the developing device.

Instead of providing a pair of larger and smaller receiving plates as described hereinabove, a pair of the same length receiving plates may be disposed in relatively closely spaced apart relationship with respect to adjacent pairs so that both of the receiving plates are made in contact with the sliding surface of the inner wall of the developing solution chamber. Alternatively, when a pair of longer and smaller receiving plates are disposed, the smaller plates may be in the form of a bar. It is preferable to make each of the larger and smaller receiving plates from porous or screen-shaped plates in order to agitate the developing solution and to reduce the resistance exerting to the pohotosensitive receiving devices when they are advanced through the developing solution.

The developed photosensitive papers are sequentially picked up from the developing device at the same rate as the papers are fed into the exposure device.

According to the present invention, there may be provided a developing device or machine in which the developed photosensitive papers may be produced positively at the same rate as they are exposed even for the photosensitive papers which are sequentially discharged in large quantities from the exposure device and which require a rather longer developing time for each copy without reducing any developing time, so that of the greater advantage are of the present invention is the higher efficiency in photocopying operation. Especially for the preparation of copies of the registers which are now much utilized in nationalization of the business routines and for the production of photos from positive or negative films, the present invention ofiers special advantages. The use of the developing device or machine of the present invention is not limited to de veloping process as described in the embodiments above, but the device of the present invention is equally used in the device for fixing the photosensitive papers developed by the developing device or machine of the present invention.

While the principles of the present invention have been made clear in the illustrative embodiments, where will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications in structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, materials, and components, used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted for specific envirouments and operating requirements, without departing from those principles, The appended claims are therefore intended to cover and embrace any such modification, within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

We claim: a

1. In a photocopying machine adapted to advance a sheet of paper from an input station along a sheet path to an output station, said sheet path passing through exposure means for forming a latent image on the sheet during an exposure operation and through developing means for developing the latent image by submerging the sheet in a liquid bath during a developing operation, the developing operation requiring substantially more time than the exposure operation, the improvement comprising means for transporting the sheet through the exposure means in an edgewise direction and means for transporting the sheet through the developing means in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the sheet, the latter means comprising sheetclamping members rotatable about, and extending radially of, a non-vertical axis, means resiliently pressing pairs of said clamping members together to form between the clamping members of such pairs a plurality of sheet-holding slots, means for feeding sheets in an endwise direction into the sheet-holding slots at a loading station, means for removing sheets from the sheetholding slots at an unloading station, and means for containing a liquid bath in the path of the sheets as said sheets, held in the sheet-holding slots, move between the loading station and the unloading station beneath theintended level of the liquid bath, said sheets while in said direction perpendicular to the plane of said sheet being developed by said liquid bath such that a plurality of sheets are simultaneously moved through said bath and are sequentially removed at the unloading station.

2. A photocopying machine as set forth in claim' 1, wherein said non-vertical axis is formed by a pair of spaced apart rollers and said plurality of sheet-holding slots are movable on a belt between said rollers and radially thereabout.

3. A photocopying machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said exposure and developing operations are continuous. 

1. In a photocopying machine adapted to advance a sheet of paper from an input station along a sheet path to an output station, said sheet path passing through exposure means for forming a latent image on the sheet during an exposure operation and through developing means for developing the latent image by submerging the sheet in a liquid bath during a developing operation, the developing operation requiring substantially more time than the exposure operation, the improvement comprising means for transporting the sheet through the exposure means in an edgewise direction and means for transporting the sheet through the developing means in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the sheet, the latter means comprising sheet-clamping members rotatable about, and extending radially of, a non-vertical axis, means resiliently pressing pairs of said clamping members together to form between the clamping members of such pairs a plurality of sheet-holding slots, means for feeding sheets in an endwise direction into the sheet-holding slots at a loading station, means for removing sheets from the sheet-holding slots at an unloading station, and means for containing a liquid bath in the path of the sheets as said sheets, held in the sheetholding slots, move between the loading station and the unloading station beneath the intended level of the liquid bath, said sheets while in said direction perpendicular to the plane of said sheet being developed by said liquid bath such that a plurality of sheets are simultaneously moved through said bath and are sequentially removed at the unloading station.
 2. A photocopying machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said non-vertical axis is formed by a pair of spaced apart rollers and said plurality of sheet-holding slots are movable on a belt between said rollers and radially thereabout.
 3. A photocopying machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said exposure and developing operations are continuous. 